2011 Sponsors

Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC)

The Missouri Technology Corporation is a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies. MTC focuses on 21st Century bioscience industries that build on Missouri’s rich history in agriculture. It is governed by a 15-member board of directors appointed by Missouri’s Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tem of the Senate. The President of the University of Missouri System and the Director of the Department of Economic Development are ex officio members of the board.

Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation promotes the Netherlands' position as a leading economy with a world-class agrifood sector. Economic activity and innovation are essential to the prosperity of the Netherlands. The Ministry enhances the country's long-term competitive strength and facilitates the private sector, which drives the economy. The Ministry takes an expansive view in its approach to economic issues, looking to the environment, the private sector, consumers and beyond national borders.

The Netherlands is worldwide a frontrunner in innovative food research. Today its agri-cluster occupies a strong position on the international markets and produces a wide range of high-quality products. The agri-food complex is of major importance to the national economy. It represents a gross added value of approximately 10% of the GDP. Agriculture/agribusiness in the Netherlands operates essentially as a mainstream economic sector. The Ministry promotes a strong, internationally competitive position for the Netherlands agro sector, with sustainable and healthy agro chains. This involves a wide range of activities, helping the sector to strengthen its international market position by keeping an eye on international developments.

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has quickly grown to become the world’s largest not-for-profit independent research institute dedicated to plant science. Scientists at the Center are engaged in research that strives to enhance the nutritional content of plants, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizer, develop new and sustainable biofuels, and generate scientific ideas and technologies that will contribute to the economic growth of the St. Louis region. The research projects of the Center are funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates and Howard G. Buffett Foundations.

Novus International Inc.

Novus International, Inc. creates Health through Nutrition products for livestock, pets and people. Novus has employees working in over 90 countries, serving more than 3,000 customers worldwide. Based in St. Charles, Missouri, Novus has facilities including corporate offices, research and development laboratories and manufacturing operations in more than 35 countries, as well as smaller offices with field staff in an additional 60 countries. Our mission is to make a clear difference in sustainably meeting the growing global need for nutrition and health.

Syngenta

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 26,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. We generate and sustain growth through a determined commitment to sustainable agriculture, innovation and new technologies. Visit www.syngenta.com. Syngenta Ventures is seeking to identify early stage companies with a strong technology base or new business model, or both. More information is available at www.syngentaventures.com.

Producing more. Conserving more. Improving lives. That's sustainable agriculture. And that's what Monsanto is all about. Monsanto could not exist without farmers. Billions of people depend upon what farmers do. And so will billions more. In the next few decades, farmers will have to grow as much food as they have in the past 10,000 years – combined. It is our purpose to work alongside farmers to do exactly that. We do this by selling seeds, traits developed through biotechnology, and crop protection chemicals.

St. Louis County Economic Council serves as the county’s economic development agency, driving job growth and prosperity in the most economically important county in Missouri. The Economic Council supports all sectors and emerging industries through its broad range of services and divisions: business development, business finance, economic development collaborative, real estate and community development, St. Louis Enterprise Centers, and World Trade Center Saint Louis. It is the only Accredited Economic Development Organization in the State of Missouri.

Established in 1997, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies (OAFT) is a non-profit organization comprised of members from grower associations, universities, industry and governments.

Located in Guelph, Ontario, the organization focuses on ensuring that Ontario producers have access to the latest technologies to compete globally and to develop new market opportunities, many of which are beyond food.

OAFT pro-actively supports the continued development and adoption of new agri-food technologies in a manner which will stimulate improvements in farm and food processing and industrial sustainability, profitability, and improve Ontario's strong position in the agri-food sector, both nationally and internationally.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers around the world. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. We believe superior research is essential to achieving crop improvements in today’s complex and competitive environment. More than 3,000 researchers develop seed products for worldwide markets. Pioneer operates more than 100 research locations around the globe which are involved in developing and testing new products.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government's trade and investment development agency. We help companies around the world to source goods, services and investment from Australia as well as offering international businesses a single, integrated point-of-contact for all trade and investment inquiries.

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service law firm with a diverse client base of domestic and international corporations. We offer superior client service to leading companies in the food and nutrition, organic and agricultural chemical, drug and pharmaceutical, animal health medical device and instrument manufacturing, hospital and laboratory, and life science research and testing sectors. We work with human, animal and plant life sciences companies at every phase of their development cycle to help bring scientific and technological advances to life. Companies rely on our deep scientific experience, our intellectual property development and licensing capabilities, and our venture formation expertise to accomplish their business objectives.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility.

Morrison & Foerster's 300-attorney-strong Intellectual Property Group ranks among the top IP practices both in the U.S. and worldwide. Our dedicated Plant IP Group handles a wide range of IP issues related to plants and other agricultural products. The Plant IP Group encompasses a unique combination of legal expertise in the patent, licensing, corporate, trademark, and litigation fields. The Group offers extensive experience domestically and internationally in preparing and obtaining utility patents for new plant varieties, plant patents, and Plant Variety Protection Certificates; counseling for clients regarding the handling of trademarks and variety denominations; and a strong litigation practice.

The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A., the world’s leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company.

Bryan Cave recognized early that the life and agricultural science industries would be the leading technology of the 21st century, critical to the health and well-being of mankind. The firm’s Agribusiness, Ag Biotechnology and Food Processing Practice Group was formed to counsel clients in the important business of producing food and medicine. Bryan Cave has a diversified international legal practice and represents a wide variety of business, financial, institutional and individual clients, including publicly held multinational corporations, large and mid-sized privately held companies, partnerships and emerging companies. Bryan Cave has supported the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center from the days of the Center's inception in 1998.

Growth and Success. Efficiency and Profitability. It’s likely these goals are top priorities for your business. It’s also likely that the daily distractions of financial and employee issues diminish your ability to focus on those goals. CBIZ enables you to dedicate your time to critical business matters by providing custom solutions that help you manage your finances and employees. Contact us to learn more about our services in benefits consulting and administration, payroll, human capital services, retirement management, accounting, tax and internal audit services.

As home to more than 400 agtech companies and some of the nation’s leading plant science research institutions, St. Louis is an ideal location for agtech innovation and investment. Coupled with an extensive bioscience network, and an infrastructure that supports the cutting edge research and development, the St. Louis region continues to be a hub for leading agtech organizations. The agtech industry is an integral part of our local economy and the St. Louis RCGA is committed to its growth, sustainability, and continued development.

Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) is a project management consulting firm specializing in the agriscience, life sciences, and nutrition industries. Through disciplined on-site leadership, IPM is able to complete its clients’ most complex projects and deliver a substantial return on investment. Areas of expertise include product development, business process improvement, technology transfer and regulatory/quality compliance. Since 1988, IPM has served over 250 clients through nearly 3500 projects globally. With regional offices in Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Boston, IPM provides on-site consulting expertise to clients everywhere.

Tarlton Corporation is a St. Louis-based general contractor and construction manager building specialized facilities for life science organizations. We build large new research and development facilities, we fit out tenant spaces in existing buildings, we handle the needs of annual maintenance contracts, and we renovate existing research laboratories, production spaces and support areas. We are a Woman-owned Business Enterprise and are committed to sustainable construction. We built BRDG Park 1 at the Danforth Plant Science Center, a LEED Gold-certified facility, and fitted out tenant suites for current occupants.

The Global Agtech Investors Network (GAIN), a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation, was formed to create a mechanism to strengthen and facilitate the capital formation efforts of investors and agtech companies, expose industry to innovative technologies and to serve as a central repository for innovation information. GAIN’s membership is international in scope and be comprised of venture capital funds, corporations, institutions, associations, government agencies and service providers.

Stifel Financial Corp. is a full-service regional brokerage and investment banking firm, established in 1890 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Company provides securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services through its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. The Private Markets Group of Stifel Nicolaus serves its clients in three primary areas:

• Venture capital and private equity fund management.
• Advisory services to emerging early stage private companies.
• Advisory service to venture capital and private equity fund managers.